Midwest Preachers Retreat The Book of Proverbs and the Formation of Character September 26-28 2011

Section 1 Foundations of Character Formation

Introduction to Wisdom Literature

Wisdom Literature Books

Job = pursuit of God

Ecclesiastes = pursuit of meaning

Proverbs = pursuit of order Represented as different types of houses: Proverbs = seven-pillared house, well 9, 31) stocked (ch.

Job =the wrecked, destroyed house (tornado) in ch. 1 Ecclesiastes = the run down house (ch. 12)

What is Wisdom?

Expertise Expertise in Negotiating the Complexities of Life Wisdom highlights social/moral skills over technical skills

Characteristics of the Wise

Most fundamentally, the truly wise person takes a Godcentered focus on life (1:7).

The wise person is a person of character (Prv 1:3). Wisdom as a direction not a destination The wise learn from the best of culture

Wisdom is relational

 The wise learn from their mistakes and the mistakes of others
(Prv. 10:17; 12:1;15:5) The wise know their hard work has limits (21:31) Wisdom is expressed in action (James 3:13)

Characteristics of the Wise

The wise know what is appropriate (15:23; 25:11) They pay careful attention to the routine affairs of life. Wisdom
learns from experiences.

Acquisition of Wisdom
Must Acquire a Taste for Wisdom (Chaps. 1-9) Must Diligently Seek It (Prov. 2:1-5) It is a Gift That Only God Can Give (Prov. 2:6-8;
James 1:5)

Proverbs

Proverbs 1:1-7

Purpose

Audience

Tools

Proverbs 1:7a Fear of the Lord

is the Beginning of Wisdom

Session 2 Temptations in the Process of Character Formation (Proverbs Chapters 1-9)

Proverbs 19Instruction Literature

Proverbs 1-9
Opening chapters contain: Ten instruction poems (lectures to the son)

All ten begin with some form of the parental admonition, e.g. my son listen to my instruction . . . .
Four are concerned only with getting the undivided attention of youth: 1:8-19; 2:1-22; 4:1-9; 4:10-19. Five poems on Woman Wisdom: 1:20-33; 8:1-36; 9:1-18; 3:13-20; 6:1-19

Proverbs 1-9
A preamble for chapters 10-29

Getting undivided attention of youth: Must acquire a taste for wisdom. Wisdom is not just intellectual but attitudinal
The conclusion of 1-9 is left open-ended: Does the son enter wisdoms house or follys house? Dont know. Its a decision the son has to make. Now the responsibility shifts from the father to the son/readers.

The Gang and AntiCharacter Proverbs 1:8-19

Defining Wisdom by its Counterpart: Folly (Prv. 1:7b, 8-19)

Contemporary Understanding of Folly

We associate a fool with the following: stupidity, one who is a buffoon, a dumb blond, or air head.

Example of Foolishness: Water and Electricity!

Biblical Understanding of Folly

Wisdoms understanding of fool: one who is morally deficient. Wisdom is a quality of character. One who has developed expertise in living life. One who is able to manage and navigate through the messes of life.

Meaning of Fool
Over half a dozen terms for fool. All indicate some kind of moral breach. Characteristics of the fool: 1. Fools do not learn from their own mistakes or the mistakes of others but often repeat them (26:11). 2. Fools lack judgment (sometimes the phrase is translated lacks sense [NRSV] or stupid [CEV, TEV] but ultimately it implies one who lacks character; (empty-headed!) see Prov.: 6:32; 7:7; 9:4; 9:16; 10:13, 20, 21; 11:12; 12:11; 15:21; 17:18; 24:30; 28:16.

Meaning of Fool (continued)

3. Fools are unwilling to learn by means of discipline (Prov. 3:11-12; 17:10) or through formal instruction (Prov. 17:16) or a word of advice (12:15) or personal experience (26:11).
4. Fools lack self-control. Both the speech (15:2) and the behavior (14:16) of fools demonstrate a lack of restraint. They take the path of least resistance to easy money (Prov. 1:8-19) and easy sex (7:6-27). 5. Fools reject the fear of the Lord (Prov.

Sexual Temptations Proverbs 5-7

Section 3: The Simplicities of Character Formation (Proverbs 10-15)

Larger Context Proverbs 10-29 Sentence Literature

Overall Structure of Proverbs

Chs. 1-9instruction literature Chs. 10-29sentence literature (collections based on proverb form): Chs. 10-15antithetic proverbs (the ABCs of wisdom, the fundamentals) Chs. 16-22synonymous proverbs (a heavy grouping of the better than sayings: 16:8, 16, 19, 32; 17:1, 12; 19:1, 22; 21:9, 19; 22:1) Chs. 22-24instruction literature Chs. 25-27analogic proverbs Chs. 28-29 mixture of proverbs Chs. 30-31instruction literature

The Proverb as a Tool for Instruction and Moral Formation

How the Proverb Functions Rhetorically

1. The proverb is packaged in a memorable form, characterized by parallelism (Prv. 10-22, 25-29)

Rhetorical Function Continued

2. The proverb is situational in quality. a. proverbs are not absolutes

b. proverbs are not generalizations

c. proverbs are partial generalizations

3. The proverb accomplishes its work partially through its brevity and wit. The two work in tandem.

Brevity ofhwhyAlw the Proverb hDowvV;tAh

hDmDjVlIm MwyVl NDkwm sws
Prov. 21:31

bwf NEj bDhzImw PRsR;kIm br rRvOoEm MEv rDjVbn Prov. 22:1

hwhy MD;lUk hEcOo wvgVpn vrw ryIvDo Prov. 22:2

The Simplicities of Character Formation: Proverbs 10-15 Contrasting/Antithetic Proverbs

Proverbs 10-11 contain a high concentration of righteous and wicked proverbs. Fundamental theology: Righteous people prosper but wicked people will suffer.

Proverbs 10-22 Sentence Literature

A few examples

Proverbs 11:24a

http://www.youtube.com/w atch?v=zfVTqo7W28c

Proverbs 11:7 When the Wicked Die

Proverbs 10-22 Sentence Literature

One can preach and teach the proverb by unpacking the experiences and stories that went into creating it. A proverb is a short sentence based on a long experience.

Proverbs 10:7a

Proverbs 11:1

Proverbs 11:1 Focus: God expects honesty in Sermon Focus and Function even the smallest areas of our lives. Function: To move Christians to greater honesty in their daily lives.

Misinterpreted and Misunderstood Proverbs

Proverbs 13:24
Corporal Punishment in the Old Testament

The Practice of Caning

1 He who loves his son will whip him often, so that he may rejoice at the way he turns out. 2 He who disciplines his son will profit by him, and will boast of him among acquaintances. 3

Sirach 30:1-13

He who teaches his son will make his enemies envious, and will glory in him among his friends.

When the father dies he will not seem to be dead,

for he has left behind him one like himself,

5 whom in his life he looked upon with joy and at death, without grief. 6 He has left behind him an avenger against his enemies, and one to repay the kindness of his friends.

Whoever spoils his son will bind up his wounds, and will suffer heartache at every cry. 8 An unbroken horse turns out stubborn, and an unchecked son turns out headstrong. 9 Pamper a child, and he will terrorize you; play with him, and he will grieve you. 10 Do not laugh with him, or you will have sorrow with him, and in the end you will gnash your teeth. 11 Give him no freedom in his youth, and do not ignore his errors. 12 Bow down his neck in his youth, and beat his sides while he is young, or else he will become stubborn and disobey you, and you will have sorrow of soul from him. 13 Discipline your son and make his yoke heavy, so that you may not be offended by his shamelessness.

The Problem of Child Abuse and Proverbs 13:24

QuickTime and a decompressor are neede d to see this picture.

Proverbs 13:24 Corporal Punishment

Can proverbs about the rod be taught in a time when child abuse is rampant?
Tom Long concludes that proverbs like 23:13-14 are unwise proverbs. (Tom Long, Preaching and the Literary Forms of the Bible, Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1989, 62.)

Corporal punishment is not synonymous with abuse.

Corporal punishment comes in context of other wisdom virtues: self-restraint (16:32; 25:28), patience (12:16; 14:29; 15:1), excessive anger (14:17), etc. The sage in 13:24 says that those who do not practice corporal punishment practice child abuse.

Proverbs 22:6
What does the phrase in the way he should go mean?

It refers to the vocation or life work of the youth.

The phrase refers to the personal aptitude of the youth. That is, the youth's individual nature, likes and dislikes. Talents and abilities must be considered in the process of training.

Proverbs 22:6
What does the phrase in the way he should go mean?

It is an ironical statement. The emphasis is on his way in a satirical sense. Let a youth do what he wants and he will grow into a selfindulgent adult. The phrase refers to the moral training that youth are to receive early in life.

Proverbs 22:6
Parents are to train youth, in the right moral way. And when they are old they will not depart. Is this an absolute? Is it a generalization? Do exceptions govern how we interpret this proverb?

Proverbs 29:18

Session 4: The Complexities of Character Formation (Proverbs 16-29)

An increase in complexity

Various types of Proverbs

Movement in 16:1-22:6 (A broadening circle of relationships occurs

Proverbs 25-27 Like Proverbs Analogical

Proverbs 25:11-20

Proverbs 26
The sage warns against several morally irresponsible or inept people: The undisciplined: 25:28 The fool: 26:1-12 The lazy: 26:13-16 The verbal abuser: 26:17-26

Proverbs 26:3 Set to Music

Special Categories of Proverbs: Contradictory, Thematic, Clustered

Contradictory Proverbs Disputational Pairs or Dueling Proverbs The Role of Conversation and Rigorous/Spirited Dialogue

Session 5: Character in its Maturity (Proverbs 31:10-31) The Woman of Noble Character

Proverbs 31:10-31 The Woman of Noble Character

Misunderstandings

Proverbs 31:10-31 The Woman of Noble Character

What is the meaning of this poem?